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Author Archives: Alastair Culham
The furry pink banana – Musa dasycarpa
Not so long ago I listed Musa velutina among the plants we are growing in the tropical glasshouse, now I know better! This curious furry and pink fruited banana from Northeast India and Myanmar grows on a short (<2m) plant … Continue reading
Posted in Crops, Palaeotropics, Species
4 Comments
Tropical Agriculture – Community Authorship
Our intrepid tropical typographers, Emily and Sarah, are about to start putting text in to their signage designs. I’m hoping that by blogging drafts of the text we plan to use it will be possible to refine and improve the … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Collaborators, Design, Interactive, Labelling, Students
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Calathea lutea – Pampano, Cachibou, Cigar Plant
I met Calathea lutea (Aubl.) Meyer ex Koernicke for the first time today while on a visit to the Living Rainforest. This impressive member of the Marantaceae is 2-3m high with silver backed leaves. These large leaves are used for wrapping … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Crops, Neotropics, Species
4 Comments
Time of the signs
Welcome to Emily and Sarah from the Typography and Graphic Communication department. These two second year students have the challenge of producing interpretative signage that will be effective in communication, look good and cope with warmth and humidity. They also … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Design, Labelling, People, Staff, Students
2 Comments
Labelling at Kew
While attending a review of the uses of the GBIF at Kew today I took the opportunity to check out the labelling system in use in their glasshouses before heading home. Kew gardens is England’s major botanic garden with unrivalled … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Design, Labelling
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Tree ferns
One of the characteristic features of middle altitudes in the tropics are tree ferns. I’ve been looking around for species that might grow in our new glasshouse. On the list of possible, and available, species are Cyathea brownii (Norfolk Island), … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Planning, Species
2 Comments
Berlin Botanical Garden labelling system
Last Autumn I attended a workshop in Berlin for the i4Life project that was based at the botanic garden so i had the opportunity to look at the glasshouse displays there and record the labelling used. The tropical fern glasshouse … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Design, Labelling
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We now have wireless internet :-)
The first order placed during the development of the tropical glasshouse was for installation of the wireless internet system. However, providing a good signal when the nearest wired internet is 300m away, there was to be minimal spillage of signal … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Technology
2 Comments
RHS Wisley Glasshouse labelling system
Perhaps one of the most impressive new glasshouses in the UK is that at the RHS gardens Wisley. Under one elegantly curved roof is a range of environments split between warm temperate and humid tropical. The glasshouse has a floor … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Design, Labelling
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Plant Labelling – some examples
Discussions about design and production of the plant labels are now underway. There are several practical challenges as well as the design issues: the labels must be waterproof, they must be cleanable to remove limescale from the watering system and … Continue reading
Posted in Annual Fund, Design
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